Falls man faces prostitution, rape charges

May 17, 2014

WARREN - A Newton Falls man facing several sex charges involving at least two minor females - including rape, compelling prostitution and child porn - was being held at the Trumbull County Jail on $250,000 bond following his arraignment on Friday.

Mark E. Carnes, 54, 961 Maple St. S.W., is due back in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on Thursday for a preliminary hearing. He was picked up this week after a Trumbull County grand jury secretly indicted him on 26 felony counts. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment.

He is charged with five counts of rape, five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, five counts of compelling prostitution and 11 counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance.

The indictment charges that the criminal activity took place between Feb. 18, 2009 and March 7, 2014.

During that time, Carnes is accused of having sexual activity by force; knowingly engaging in sexual conduct with a person 13 years of age or older but younger than 16 years of age and 10 or more years younger than he is; that he "did knowingly induce, procure, encourage, solicit, request, or otherwise facilitate a minor to engage in sexual activity for hire."

The indictment also charges that Carnes did photograph a minor who is not his child or ward "in a state of nudity, or create, direct, produce, or transfer any material or performance that shows the minor in a state of nudity."

Allegations involving one girl date back to Feb. 18, 2009, when she was 13, and continued through March 7, 2014. Allegations involving a second girl date back to Feb. 28, 2012 when she was 14 and continued through March 7, 2014.